7 Things To Look For In A Web Development Company
Choosing a web design company can be a difficult task. There are lots of companies around, and you might not be sure what makes one different from another. Cost is always a factor, but it should never be the main factor – there are many important things to consider that aren’t directly tied to the price.
They Put the Customer in First Place
You know what you want from your website and you know all about your product, service, or business. Your chosen web design company needs to listen to what you have to say and understand what you are hoping to achieve – there’s a significant difference between simply advertising your bricks-and-mortar business and setting up a fully online e-commerce store.
There may be things you’ll struggle with as you don’t necessarily know what your website could be capable of, so a great web design company will always put forward ideas and suggestions that will lift your site to the next level.
They Understand SEO
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of making sure that your website ticks all the boxes that make search engines sit up and take notice. You need a clear design with great images, a fast loading site, and content that informs but doesn’t overuse keywords or phrases.
There needs to be a plan for keeping the site relevant into the future, and you need to understand what is required to be well placed in the search results.
They Keep Up to Date with SEO Requirements
Search engines often change what they are looking for in a website due to new consumer trends, rules and regulations, and the requirements of new devices. Designing sites for specifications that are 3 years out of date isn’t a recipe for success.
A web design company that keeps up to date with what’s needed to be successful from an SEO viewpoint is the one that is most likely to bring you new business through your site.
They Design with a Mobile First Mindset
It is becoming increasingly important that websites are built to be used on smaller mobile devices in the first instance, with desktops and laptops becoming more of an afterthought. This is due to the majority of people now use phones or tablets as their primary way to access the internet, and if your site does not display or work properly on these devices you’ll lose customers – and potentially be penalized by the search engines.
They Are Confident
Nobody wants to deal with a business that says, “I guess this will work…” – so when your web design company is confident that their design and services will get results for you, it’s a sign that they know what they are doing.
Don’t take enthusiasm and ambition as confidence – guaranteeing sales of a million products isn’t confidence, it’s unhelpful. Confidence is taking your requirements and turning them into a reality, building a website that fulfils your needs and the needs of your customers.
You want confidence that they can reach your customers with your message.
They Are Experienced
Experience comes in many forms, and experience doesn’t always mean “established for 20 years”. The best kind of experience for any web design company is working with clients from different industry sectors.
If a web design company specializes in sites for food businesses, you can be certain all their sites will look the same. If they only work with vehicle sales businesses, you know that all their sites will be similar. When they work with every industry under the sun, they’ll be able to tailor your website to your exact needs and requirements.
Websites that stand out for all the right reasons will resonate with your customers and are likely to result in more conversions that seeing the same old thing every time they log on. Wouldn’t you want your website to be the one that customers choose?
They Price Their Services Sensibly
As mentioned before, price is always a factor. Before you go ahead and buy a website from the cheapest web design company you can find, consider this – they’ll only do the amount of work you pay for. The less you pay, the lower the value of the service you’ll receive.
You want a web design company that puts thought into what they do and provide a top-class service. You don’t want someone building the same website for multiple clients and just changing the logo, but if you pay rock-bottom prices, that’s likely to be what you’ll get.
Don’t pay the lowest you can, but in a similar vein don’t pay more than you need to. Set a budget and stick to it, and you’ll find that you’ll be able to work with a web design company that meets your needs perfectly.
